P&Z meetings back in session2 min read

After a few slow months for the Planning and Zoning Commission, commissioners are getting back on track with more meetings.

Due to a lack of applications from citywide projects, P&Z had canceled a few meetings earlier this year for two months.

“It takes a lot of time and energy to conduct a multi-faceted review before a project is even ready to go to P&Z,” city of Sedona Associate Planner Katherine Herbert said back in April. “We definitely have projects in the pipeline, but they are still in the review phase.”

Since returning to a more consistent schedule in the past two months, P&Z has looked at more minor projects like West Sedona restaurant ChocolaTree’s request for an over­flow parking lot, Arizona Water Co.’s buried water storage tank and booster pump station and Sedonya Conscious Living Center’s CUP renewal.

With no code enforcement issues, the commission approved the Sedonya Conscious Living Center’s proposed CUP without any expiration date. The only significant change for the center will be adjusted hours just from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“As was previously approved in 2020, staff does believe that this use meets [the community clubhouse] definition,” Herbert said at the July 19 meeting. “And the reason that we’re here before you today is one of the original conditions of approval was that any renewal or extension comes back before you in a public hearing.”

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Since 2020, after a long debate by the commission, Sedonya Conscious Living Center has operated as a nonprofit, membership-based gathering space offering conscious living resources such as classes, workshops, panels and training for Sedona’s citizens and guests.

Eventually, the initial CUP passed at a 6-1 vote.

But other meetings reflected on more prominent discus­sions like the Soldiers Pass and Western Gateway Community Focus Areas and more extensive resort plans.

The recommending commission moves through their process for approval or denial of applicants’ plans with the next step being city council approval.

The next meeting for P&Z will look at the comprehensive review of the heavily discussed workforce housing at Sunset Loft apartment building on August 16.

Juliana Walter

Juliana Walter was born and raised on the East Coast, originating from Maryland and earning her degree in Florida. After graduating from the University of Tampa, she traveled all over the West for months before settling in Sedona. She has previously covered politics, student life, sports and arts for Tampa Magazine and The Minaret. When she’s not working, you can find Juliana hiking and camping all over the Southwest. If you hear something interesting around the city, she might also find it interesting and can be contacted at jwalter@larsonnewspapers.com.

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